David Ravetto birdied the final hole of the second round to take the halfway lead at the 2024 D+D REAL Czech Masters at 13 under.
The Frenchman emerged from a foursome with Richie Ramsay, Jesper Svensson and Andrew Johnston and quickly equalled the course record of 63 set by Andrew Johnston with a strong final performance on Friday at PGA National OAKS Prague.
Espen Kofstad and Brandon Robinson Thompson had two days of impressive scores on the course in their DP World Tour debut but finished one shot behind at 11 under.
Lavitto’s bogey-free round began on the back nine with a birdie putt from 12 feet on the 11th, a birdie putt from close range on the 13th and an eagle putt right next to the green on the 16th.
Turning to the front nine, he began to catch birdies in succession and caught two more birdies on the fourth and sixth holes, including the sixth hole where he won with a 28-foot putt and then defeated him with a powerful 7-foot putt on the ninth hole.
“I felt really good,” he said. “I've been playing really well in practice the last few weeks and today was a perfect round. Holed the putt and I couldn't ask for anything more.
“My main goal this week is to enjoy the game and obviously being in the lead after two days, I'm enjoying it right now and feeling comfortable. I'm just going to try to enjoy it and we'll see how it goes.”
Johnston scored three birdies in the first four holes starting with the 10th hole, and after giving up a chance on the 14th hole, he repeated his initial scoring momentum on the 16th, 17th and 1st holes.
Four scores in five holes starting with the fourth hole put him in a tie for first place until Lavitto finished strongly.
“I mean, it was a weird game, wasn’t it?” Johnston said. “We had a little break, but I had been playing really well the last couple of weeks and not scoring any goals.
“Obviously it's over today, that's how golf works.”
Swenson continued his good form on Thursday, holed out his first shot from 21 feet for birdie.
He made short birdie putts on the fifth, ninth, 12th and 13th holes, although he missed an eagle opportunity from within four feet on the 13th.
The Swedish player easily led with a 7-foot putt on the 16th hole, and although he lost another shot on the next hole, he said: “The first two days were great, and now I have played in several tournaments and fought for the qualifying line, so it feels much better to fight for the victory now.”
Ramsey took the lead after a front-nine 31 that included five birdies, including three straight birdies starting on the fifth hole.
After playing even par on the back nine with two birdies and two bogeys, he said: “I'm very happy with my performance, it went really well. It's great to be on top but I have to try to do my best tomorrow.”
Robinson Thompson, who went bogey-free on the first day until an over-the-top shot on the 18th hole found a bunker, quickly got back on track after making par on the 10th hole Friday with three straight birdies, including a 42-foot putt on the 12th.
He dropped a shot on the first hole, but his approach on the fourth and seventh holes gave him a chance to match his win last week at the FarmFood Scottish Challenge Powered by the R&A and another victory on the DP World Tour.
“It’s great to play in any tournament, let alone the DP,” he said.
“It's easier said than done, but it's just another golf course. I'm the same guy who played well last week, so why not come and do the same thing? But of course it's easier said than done.”
Kofstad birdied four of his final six holes to end his first-round 68 with an impressive 65, while Ross Fisher, Connor Sim and Bernd Weisberg were one shot behind as seven players finished at nine under.
